Composition containing humidity regulators for preparing tissue products

ABSTRACT

A composition is provided containing moisture regulators for tissue products. The composition contains 1% to 15% by weight, preferably 2% to 20% by weight, relative to the total composition, of at least one special non-ionic surfactant selected from among at least one amine oxide and/or hydroxy acid esters and/or at least one ampho-surfactant. Also provided is a tissue product as well as to a process for the production of tissue products.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.09/380,283, filed on Aug. 27, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,408, whichwas a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP98/00767 filed on Feb. 10, 1998, whichInternational Application was published by the International Bureau onSep. 24, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a composition containing moistureregulators for tissue products, a process for the production of theseproducts, the use of the composition for the treatment of tissueproducts as well as tissue products in the form of wet-laid, includingTAD, or air-laid products (non-wovens) on the basis of sheet-likesupport materials containing primarily cellulose fibers.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention relates to a skin-care as well assoftness-enhancing composition for the treatment of tissue productswhich can be used, for example, for tissue paper such as facial tissues,cosmetic tissues, toilet paper, household paper towels and the like.

Paper cloth, sheets or non-wovens, also called tissue or tissue paper ortissue cloth in the hygienic paper area when they have low basisweights, are articles of daily use which have become indispensable inmodem society. Tissue products such as facial tissues, cosmetic tissues,make-up removal wipes, household paper towels and toilet paper make up alarge part of the trade volume, whereby there is a tendency towardsemollient products. In the case of tissue products with a specialemollient character, aside from the skin-care aspect, the aspect ofextreme softness of the tissues is also the focus of consumer interest.As far as the skin-care properties are concerned, in addition to thegreater softness of the products and the passive skin-care alreadyassociated with this, this entails mainly chemical substances that canbe applied onto the tissue as a component of a composition. The term“active skin-care” is used below to mean that a composition is appliedonto the tissue and then transferred to the skin when this tissue isused. Thus, on the one hand, through the use of a soft tissue, the skinshould not be additionally irritated and, on the other hand, if theapplication quantity is sufficient, the skin should soothed andreddening of the skin largely prevented or at least mitigated. Skin-carecomponents of the composition are those substances that have the effectson the skin of soothing, of preventing or inhibiting irritation, ofmoisturizing and the like, and that are of the kind known from skincosmetics as components of skin lotions, skin creams, skin ointments,shampoos, etc.

The term “passive skin-care” is used to describe the gentleness of atissue product, resulting from extreme softness, that is to say, highsurface smoothness/gentleness in conjunction with high crumple softness.This softness can be further improved by the composition and by themorphological structure of the tissue product, by mechanical measuressuch as smoothing or roughening as well as by the addition of suitablechemical auxiliaries.

In general, “softness” in tissue products refers to the subjectivetactile experience of consumers when they take the product into theirhands and rub it over their skin or crumple it in their hands. Pleaserefer to the older patent application WO96/08601 for further details onthe softness and on the production of the tissue products.

The use of chemicals to increase the softness of tissue products islikewise known.

These chemicals are usually cationic surfactants of the type describedin German Preliminary Published Application No. 4,334,367 or EP-A0,688,901 or else a glucose glutamate of the type found in U.S. Pat. No.4,882,221. Another possibility for obtaining soft tissue paper is to usenon-ionic surfactants of the type described in European PatentApplication No. 347,177 or the use of polysiloxanes that are describedin greater depth, for example, in European Patent Application Nos.347,153 and 347,154.

Moreover, a non-drying cleansing cloth is known from DE-C 3,447,499whereby an emulsion is applied onto a support material, said emulsionconsisting of at least one moisture regulator, preferably polyethyleneglycol, and at least one additional liquid substance.

Moreover, WO96108601 already described compositions containingpolysiloxanes for tissue paper products that contain 25% to 95% byweight of at least one polyhydroxy compound, 5% to 75% by weight ofpolysiloxane as well as, relative to 100 parts by weight of thismixture, 0% to 35% by weight of water. In this application, it waspossible to demonstrate that the above-mentioned combination has asynergistic effect on the softness. The above-mentioned state of the arthad always had the objective of creating tissue products with greatersoftness in which the mechanical properties are not negativelyinfluenced,

U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,367 relates to a web of cellulosic fibers containing0.1% to 2% by weight, relative to the fiber web, of alauroamphoglycinate. However, this publication contains no informationindicating that this fiber web additionally contains moistureregulators, nor does it suggest this.

German Preliminary Published Application No. 3,237,574 relates to theuse of special amine oxides of the type defined by the general formula(I) below as an auxiliary in the production of cellulose, paper orspecial hygiene products in order to reduce the mechanical strength andto Improve the wettability or water absorption capacity. These amineoxides are normally added in quantities of 0.02% to 2.0%, preferably0.01 to 1%, relative to the dry weight of the cellulose. Here, too, thispublication neither describes as prior art nor suggests adding moistureregulators to such compositions for tissue products or to the tissueproducts themselves.

EP-A 0,347,176 relates to a tissue paper with a basis weight of 10 to 65grams per m² and a density of no more than 0.6 grams per cm³, whereby,in addition to cellulose fibers, this paper contains at least 0.01% byweight of a non-cationic surfactant, relative to the dry fiber weight ofthe paper, whereby said non-cationic surfactant has been applied ontothe moist tissue web. The above-mentioned non-cationic surfactant is,for example, a water-soluble amine oxide with an alkyl group having 10to 15 carbon atoms and 2 (hydroxy)alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbonatoms. Once again, it cannot be gleaned from this publication to alsoadd moisture regulators to such a composition containing suchsurfactants and to use this mixture on tissue products, nor is thissuggested.

EP-A 0,347,177 defines the product mentioned in EP-A 0,347,176 as wellas the applicable production process. Hence, once again, the currentlyclaimed subject matter is neither suggested nor described as prior art.

EP-A 0,688,901 relates to a tissue paper product to which 3% to 35% bydry weight of an aqueous composition that imparts softness has beenadded, whereby said composition that imparts softness consists of 20% to98% by weight of glycerin and 0.2% to 5% by weight of a quaternaryammonium compound, which is usually meant to refer to a cationicsurfactant rather than a non-ionic or ampho-ionic surfactant. Hence,this publication neither describes as prior art nor suggests the use ofspecific amounts of a special non-ionic surfactant. A substitution ofthe cationic surfactant for a non-ionic surfactant is not suggestedeither, since both substance classes are normally not comparable to eachother due to their different realms of application.

DE-C 3,447,499 relates to a non-drying cleansing cloth consisting of asheet-like support material onto which an emulsion has been applied thatcontains water and a moisture regulator, whereby fine-particle,inorganic and/or organic dispersible solids have necessarily beenapplied onto the support material. Once again, it cannot be gleaned fromthis publication to add even special amounts of a special non-ionicsurfactant to such a composition for tissue products or to tissueproducts themselves, without the corresponding fine-particle, inorganicand/or organic, dispersible solids.

EP-A 0,282,289 relates to a skin-care composition containing 1% to 35%by weight of a salt of a citric acid monoalkylester. A paraffin oil orvegetable oil is used as the carrier for this composition. This neitherdescribes as prior art nor suggests using a hydrophilic moistureregulator as an additional component, especially one on the basis ofpolyols, specifically in conjunction with tissue products.

German Published Examined Application No. 2,622,571 relates to a moisttoilet paper impregnated with cleansing, fatty and bacteriostaticsubstances, whereby the support material is impregnated with a solutionhaving the following composition: 0.2% to 2.0% by weight of fatty acidamidoalkyl betaine, 0.2% to 2.0% by weight of ethoxylated glycerinpartial ester of saturated fatty acids, 0% to 20% by weight of aliphaticalcohols having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, 0.5% to 5% by weight of organicacids, 0% to 0.5% by weight of perfume oil, and water as the rest. Dueto the fraction of acids that are optionally to be added, a pH value of5 to 6 is achieved. This publication likewise defines in detail what thealiphatic alcohol components are supposed to be, namely, disinfectingand preserving components, which normally means low alkyl monoalcohols,especially the representatives ethanol and isopropanol named in thepublication. This neither describes as prior art nor suggests addingmoisture regulators to this composition.

German Utility Model No. 8,512,083 discloses moist toilet paper which ischaracterized in that it consists of a paper impregnated with glycol orglycol ester. This document neither discloses nor does it suggest addingother components to the moist toilet paper which have asoftness-enhancing effect as well as an emollient effect for the user.

AT 358,741 relates to a skin-cleansing web impregnated with cleansingemollient, in which the web has a wiping surface and a wiping zone oflow density, whereby the wiping surface forms a boundary for the wipingzone, the wiping zone having a mean hollow space index of at least 68and a minimum hollow space index of at least 10, and whereby the wipingzone is impregnated with 10% to 150% lipophilic cleansing emollient,relative to the weight of the web. However, the subject matter of thepresent invention is neither described as prior art nor suggested, sincethe composition according to the invention is not lipophilic vis-à-visthe hydrophilic main component, namely, the moisture regulator.

However, it is a virtually unknown objective to provide such a tissueproduct that has not only an improved softness but that additionally hasan active skin-care effect thanks to the applied composition.

Thus, the subject matter of the invention is to provide a compositioncontaining moisture regulators for tissue products that has asoftness-enhancing effect as well as an emollient effect for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention relates to a composition containingmoisture regulators for tissue products which is characterized in thatit also contains 1% to 25% by weight, preferably 7% to 20% by weight,especially 5% to 13% by weight, relative to the total composition, of atleast one non-ionic surfactant selected from among amine oxide and/orhydroxy acid esters and/or at least one ampho-surfactant.

Another subject matter of the present invention is a process for theproduction of tissue products in which such a composition is appliedonto the fiber web or onto the tissue sheet either within the wiresection, the press section, the TAD section, on the Yankee cylinderand/or the drying section, that is to say, at a fibrous material densityof 20% to 97% relative to the dry fiber weight of the sheet, in anamount of 0.1% to 59% by weight, continuously or discontinuously onto orinto the sheet, and the sheet optionally undergoes a re-smoothingprocess after the application. As an alternative, the present inventionis based on the objective of providing a process for the production oftissue products in which the above-mentioned application is carried outafter the drying section on the lap machine, on the combiner and/or inthe automatic processing unit in the above-mentioned manner.

Another aspect of the present invention is a process for the productionof tissue products in which a composition is applied onto a fiber web oronto a tissue sheet within a wire section, a press section, athrough-air drying section, on a Yankee cylinder and/or a dryingsection, at a fibrous material density of 20% to 97% relative to the dryfiber weight of the sheet, in an amount of 0.1% to 50% by weight,preferably 0.2% to 50% by weight, continuously or discontinuously ontoor into the sheet, and wherein the sheet optionally undergoes asmoothing process after the application.

Another aspect of the present invention is a process for the productionof tissue products, in which a composition is applied onto a fiber webor onto a tissue sheet after being treated by a drying section of atissue paper machine, on a combiner and/or in a converting unit in anamount of 0.1% to 40% by weight, preferably 1% to 20% by weight,continuously or discontinuously onto or into the sheet, and the sheetoptionally undergoes a smoothing process after the application.

Another subject matter of the present invention is a tissue product inthe form of wet-laid, including TAD, and/or air-laid products ornon-wovens on the basis of sheet-like support materials having at leastone ply and containing primarily cellulose fibers, which ischaracterized in that it also contains 5% to 20% by weight, preferably7% to 13% by weight, relative to the total product, of at least onespecial non-ionic surfactant, selected from among amine oxide and/orhydroxy acid esters and/or at least one ampho-surfactant.

Finally, the subject matter of the present invention is the use of theabove-mentioned composition for the treatment of tissue products,especially facial tissues, cosmetic tissues, make-up removal wipes,toilet paper and household paper towels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the composition according to theinvention, the above-mentioned non-ionic surfactant is an amine oxidehaving the general formula

wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃, independent of each other, stand for anoptionally substituted aliphatic, linear or branched alkyl radicalhaving 1 to 25 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 17 carbon atoms, for anoptionally substituted, cyclic alkyl radical having 3 to 25 carbonatoms, preferably 3 to 17 carbon atoms, for an optionally substitutedaliphatic, linear or branched amidoalkyl radical having 3 to 22 carbonatoms, preferably 7 to 17 carbon atoms in the alkyl part, or for anoptionally substituted cyclic amidoalkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbonatoms, preferably 5 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl part.

With these amine oxides, it is preferable that, in the above-mentionedformula, R₁ and R₂ stand for an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,preferably methyl, and R₃ stands for an amidoalkyl group having thegeneral formula

(CH₂)_(a)N(H)C(O)R₄  (11)

wherein a is 1 to 5 and R₄ stands for a fatty acid radical stemming fromnatural oils or fats and having 7 to 25 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 17carbon atoms.

According to another preferred embodiment, the compositions according tothe invention contain a hydroxy acid ester, whereby it can be, forexample, a glucose acid ester, a lactic acid ester, a mandelic acidester, a malic acid ester, a tartaric acid ester, a citric acid ester ora ricinoleic acid ester, which contains at least one fatty acid radicalstemming from natural oils or fats and having 1 to 25 carbon atoms,preferably 7 to 17 carbon atoms, and which optionally also has at leastone polar group such as, for example, hydroxy. In this context, specialpreference is given to corresponding citric acid esters containing atleast one fatty acid radical and to their salts.

According to another preferred embodiment, the composition according tothe invention contains an ampho-surfactant in the form of an ampholyteor a betaine.

If the component contained in the composition according to the inventionis a betaine, then it should be derived from natural or syntheticsources and selected from among alkyl betaines having the generalformula

R₅(CH₃)N^(⊕)(CH₃)CH₂COO^(⊖)  (III)

wherein R₅ stands for an optionally substituted linear or branched alkylgroup having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 17 carbon atoms, foralkylamido betaines having the general formula,

R₆(CO)NH(CH₂)₀(CH₃)N^(⊕)(CH₃)CH₂COO^(⊖)  (IV)

wherein R₆ stands for an optionally substituted linear or branched alkylgroup having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 17 carbon atoms, ando is 1 to 5, for sulfobetaines having the general formula

wherein R₇ stands for an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to25 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 17 carbon atoms, and X stands for anoptionally substituted alkylene group with 1 to 5 methylene units, foralkyl polyamphopolycarboxy glycinates having the general formula

wherein R₂₈, stands for a C₇ to C₁₇-fatty acid and n is 2 or 3 orglycine ester having the general formula

wherein R₂₉ stands for a C₇ to C₁₇-Alkyl group, preferably C₁₂H₂₅.

In the composition according to the invention, it is also preferred forthe moisture regulator to be present in an amount of 40% to 90% byweight, preferably 50% to 80% by weight, relative to the totalcomposition, and for it to be selected especially from among polyols.Polyols as defined in the above-mentioned manner are especiallyglycerin, polyalkylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol (butylene glycol),propylene glycol and sugar alcohols, whereby especially glycerin,butylene glycol and/or propylene glycol are particularly preferred.

According to another preferred embodiment, the compositions according tothe invention contain 0.01% to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1% to 40% byweight, of at least one natural, nature-identical or synthetic skin-careagent. Mention can be made here of skin-care agents on the, basis ofvitamins or plant extracts such as, for example, extracts of horsechestnut seeds, birch, arnica, chamomile or bisabolol or else azuleneitself, St. John's wort, cucumber, aloe vera, hops, allantoin orhamamelis and linden, some of which are also known for their astringentand healing effects. Provitamin B5=D-panthenol is especially well-suitedsince it concurrently serves as a moisturizer and thus partiallyreplaces the glycerin/propylene glycol. In the case of bisabolol andazulene, an addition of 0.5% to 1% to the composition already bringsabout such an effect. Other ingredients that can be added to thecomposition are glycyrrhetinic acid, the active ingredient from the rootof the licorice bush, which has a bacteriostatic and antiinflammatoryeffect and also its salts, as well as phytosterol (also ethoxylated)Generol® (Henkel KGaA), made of soy oil, which likewise has anantiinflammatory effect (R. Wachter, B. Salka and A. Magnet, Parfümerieand Kosmetik [Perfumery and Cosmetics] 75 (1994) 755). The compositioncan contain 1% to 5% by weight of these ingredients. Additionalingredients here are, for example, sorbitan fatty acid ester oroxethylated homologous compounds of glycerin, esters of oxethylatedfatty alcohols, fatty alcohol alkanolamides, oxethylated fatty alcohols,oxethylated lanolin alcohols, glycerin monostearate, stearic acid, cetylstearyl alcohol, vaseline and lanolin. In addition to lanolin itself,lanolin derivatives can also be used such as, for instance, lanolinalcohol or wool grease alcohols that are sold by Union Carbide Inc.under the name Amerchol, in conjunction with mineral oils. Other lanolinderivatives are the acetylated lanolins as well as hydrophilic lanolinderivatives, for example, lanolin polyoxyethylene compounds. Thecomposition can also contain jojoba oil, avocado oil, tea shrub oil andlinden extract or rice germ oil in an amount ranging from 1% to 40% byweight, but especially ranging from 10% to 20% by weight as additionalbeneficial skin-care components.

The polysiloxane component possibly used as an ingredient of theskin-care agent can be any water-soluble and/or water-dispersiblecompound that is liquid, pasty or wax-like at room temperature (20° C.[68° F.]). The polysiloxane component used for the purposes of thepresent invention includes polymeric, oligomeric, copolymeric and othermultiple, monomeric siloxanes. Below, the term polysiloxane will referto any polymeric, oligomeric, or other poly-monomeric siloxane material.Moreover, the polysiloxane material can have a linear structure, abranched structure or a cyclic structure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the composition, the polysiloxanecomponent in the skin-care agent has monomeric siloxane units having thefollowing structure:

wherein R₈ and R₉ are either the same or else different for eachmonomeric siloxane unit, and each stands for an alkyl, aryl, alkenyl,alkylaryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, halogenated hydrocarbon or othergroup. Each of these groups can be substituted or unsubstituted. R₈ andR₉ groups of each special monomeric unit can differ from thecorresponding functional groups of the next attached monomeric unit.Moreover, these groups can be straight-chained as well as branched orelse they can have a cyclic structure. The groups R₈ and R₉ can also andindependently of each other be silicon groups, but they are not limitedto siloxanes, polysiloxanes and polysilanes. The groups R₈ and R₉ canalso contain a large number of organic functional groups such as, forexample, alcohol, carboxylic acid and amino-functional groups.

The degree and type of substitution determine the relative degree ofsoftness, the velvety hand and the hydrophilia that is imparted to thetissue paper structure. In general, the degree of softness and thevelvety hand—brought about, for example, by the polysiloxane—increase asthe hydrophilia of the substituted polysiloxane component decreases.Amino-functional polysiloxanes and polyether polysiloxanes areespecially preferred as the polysiloxane component in the treatmentagent according to the invention.

Preferred skin-friendly polysiloxanes in the composition according tothe invention include linear organo-polysiloxane compounds having thefollowing general formula

wherein the R₁₀ to R₁₈ groups each, independently of each other, standfor C₁ to C₁₀ unsubstituted alkyl or aryl groups and R₁₉ stands for anysubstituted C₁ to C₁₀-alkyl or aryl radical. Preferably, each R₁₀ to R₁₈group, independent of each other, stands for a C₁ to C₁₀ unsubstitutedalkyl group. The person skilled in the art in this field knows that itdoes not make much difference, for example, whether R₁₈ or R₁₉ standsfor the substituted group. Preferably, the molar ratio of b to (a+b) isbetween 0% and 20%, preferably between 1% and 10%, and especiallybetween 1% and 5%.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the composition according tothe invention, in the skin-friendly polysiloxane, R₁₀ to R₁₈ stands formethyl groups and R₁₉ stands for a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,aryl or alkenyl group. The materials generally designated here aspolydimethyl siloxanes are those which have a special functionality asthey are used in the present case. Examples of such polydimethylsiloxanes can be polydimethyl siloxanes such as Dow Corning® 200 Fluid,polydimethyl cyclosiloxanes such as Dow Corning® 344 and 345,polydimethyl siloxane with an R₁₀-alkyl hydrocarbon group and apolydimethyl siloxane with one or more amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether,polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester, thiol and/or other R₁₉functional groups, including alkyl and alkenyl analogs of suchfunctional groups. For example, an amino-functional alkyl group such asR₁₉ can be amino-functional polydimethyl siloxane or anamino-alkyl-functional polydimethyl siloxane. The polydimethyl siloxaneslisted here are given as examples but this does not mean that others,not specifically mentioned here, are excluded from this.

The viscosity of the polysiloxanes used as the skin-friendly componentin the composition according to the invention can vary over a wide rangeas long as the polysiloxane remains fluid and can be liquefied for usein the treatment agent according to the invention for application ontothe tissue paper. This encompasses, for example, viscosities of 25×10⁻⁶m²s to 20,000,000×10⁻⁶ m²/s or even higher. Preference is given here toviscosities ranging from 15,000×10⁻⁶ m²/s to 3,400,000×10⁻⁶ m²/s.High-viscosity polysiloxanes, which are not themselves flowable, can beeffectively applied onto tissue paper as a component of the compositionaccording to the invention, for example, by emulsifying the polysiloxanecomponent according to the invention in polyol or propylene glycol orglycerin or water or else dissolved in mixtures thereof together with asurfactant or else by dissolving the polysiloxane, if it is not solublein propylene glycol or glycerin or water, using a solvent such ashexane. Special methods for applying the polysiloxane component ontotissue products are discussed below.

The above-mentioned skin-friendly polysiloxane components are described,for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,826,551, 3,964,550, 4,364,837,4,395,454, 4,950,545, 4,921,895 and British Patent No. 849,433.Furthermore, the monograph “Silicon Compounds”, pages 181 to 217published by Petrarch Systems, 1984, contains a comprehensive listingand description of such polysiloxanes.

According to another preferred embodiment, polyether siloxanes havingthe general mean formula can be used as the skin-friendly polysiloxanecomponent in the compositions according to the invention,

wherein R₂₀ in the molecule is either the same or else different andstands for an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or for a polyethergroup (C_(n)H_(2n)O)_(x)R₂₁, wherein R₂₁ stands for hydrogen, hydroxyl,alkyl or for an acyl group and n is a numerical value from 2 to 2.7, andx has a numerical value from 2 to 200, provided that at least one of theR₂₀ groups in the average molecule stands for a polyether group; a has anumerical value from 0 to 98, b has a numerical value from 0 to 98 anda+b is 8 to 98. R₂₀ can stand for an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbonatoms or for a polyether group. However, the condition has to be metthat at least one R₂₀ in an average molecule stands for a polyethergroup. Preferably, 2 to 5 of the R₂₀ groups stand for polyether groupsand the remaining R₂₀ groups then stand for an alkyl group, wherebyspecial preference is given to the methyl group. The alkyl group,however, can also have up to 12 carbon atoms. In this manner, it ispossible to vary the properties of the treatment agent and thereby toimprove the handling of tissue paper products. The polyether groups havethe formula (C_(n)H_(2n)O)_(x)R₂₁. The index n has a numerical valuefrom 2 to 2.7. In general, the ether group consists of severaloxyethylenes and optionally oxypropylene groups. When the index n is 2,then the polyether group consists exclusively of oxyethylene units. Ifthe numerical value of n increases, then the fraction of oxyethylenegroups likewise increases. The numerical value of n=2.7 means that 70%of the polyether groups are oxypropylene groups.

The index x stands for the number of oxyalkylene units. This value is amean numerical value since a mixture of products having different chainlengths is generally obtained from the synthesis of polyethers. Theindex x has a numerical value from 2 to 200 and preferably lies between10 and 50. Preference is given to polyether groups with a mean molecularweight of 600 to 4000. The index a means the number of methyl siloxaneunits that are present on the R₁₂ group. The index b corresponds to thenumber of dimethyl siloxane units. Whereas a and b can assume a valuefrom 0 to 98, the condition has to be met that the sum of a+b has avalue from 8 to 98. If a=0, then the polyether group or groups areconnected at their terminal positions. The siloxanes with positivevalues for a are modified by the R₁₂ side chains. Preference is given tosiloxanes in which the R₂₀ groups are located in the side chain. The R₂,group can be hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl or else acyl. Preferably, R₁₃stands for a hydrogen atom. If R₂₁, stands for an alkyl group, then lowalkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms are preferred. The acetyl groupis the preferred acyl group.

According to an especially preferred embodiment, the skin-friendlypolysiloxane component in the composition according to the invention hasthe following formula:

wherein R₂₂ stands for a group having the formula

and wherein R₂₃ stands for a bivalent hydrocarbon group whose carbonchain is interrupted by an oxygen atom, R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆ are either thesame or else different and stand for alkyl groups having 1 to 18 carbonatoms, of which one of the groups R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆ stands for a —(CH₂)₃NHCOR₁₉ group wherein R₁₉ stands for an alkyl group having 7 to 17carbon atoms and Y⁻ is a monovalent anion and c has a numerical valuefrom 50 to 100. R₂₃ stands for a bivalent hydrocarbon group, forexample, for the group having the formula —CH₂—C(OH)H—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—. TheR₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆ groups can be either the same or else different and standfor alkyl groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms. However, one of theabove-mentioned groups R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆ can also stand for a (CH₂)₃ NHCOR₂₇group.

If R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆ groups stand for alkyl groups, then they have 1 to 18carbon atoms. Special preference is given to R₁₄ groups in which two ofthe above-mentioned R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆ groups have 1 to 4 carbon atoms andthe third group has up to 18 carbon atoms. If one of the R₂₄, R₂₅, R₂₆groups stands for a (CH₂)₃ NHCOR₂₇ group, then the R₁₉ group stands foran alkyl group having 7 to 17 carbon atoms. Y⁻ is a monovalent anion, ingeneral an acetate group. However, Y can also be an inorganic group suchas, for example, Cl⁻. The Index “c” indicates the number of dimethylsiloxy units in the linear siloxane and has a numerical value from 5 to100 and preferably from 10 to 80. Among the above-mentioned siloxanes,special preference is given to polydimethyl siloxanes as such as wellas, for instance, to polydimethyl siloxanes modified with polyethergroups, with alkyl groups, and with quaternary or betainic groups,especially with nitrogen groups.

Especially preferred polysiloxanes are the organo-modified siloxanessold by Th. Goldschmidt AG under the name Tegopren®, which have apronounced surface activity and boundary surface activity in aqueous andorganic systems. These are polyether siloxanes of the type offered forsale in the company publication “Tegopren® Informativ”, undated, by Th.Goldschmidt AG under the trade names Tegopren® 3012, Tegopren® 3020,Tegopren® 3021, Tegopren® 3022, Tegopren® 3070, Tegopren® 5830,Tegopren® 5840, Tegopren® 5842, Tegopren® 5843, Tegopren® 5847,Tegopren® 5851, Tegopren® 5852, Tegopren® 5863, Tegopren® 5873,Tegopren® 5878, Tegopren® 5884 as well as Tegopren® 7006, and theynormally have mean turbidity points in the range from below 25° C. [77°F.] to 71° C. [159.8° F.] as well as modified siloxanes in the form ofTegopren silicon quats and Tegopren silicon betaines of the type soldunder the designations Tegopren® 6920, Tegopren® 6922 and Tegopren®6950.

Non-ionic and/or cationic surfactants in quantities of 0% to 20% byweight, preferably 0% to 10% by weight, can be used in the compositionaccording to the invention as additional commonly employed auxiliariesand additives. Such types of surfactants are, for example, quaternaryammonium compounds, especially quaternary ammonium salts such as thosedescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,312,522, 5,397,435,5,405,501, 5,427,696 as well as in the patent applications EP-A 688,901,WO95/11344, WO95/11343, WO95/01478, WO95/01479, WO94/29521, WO94/29520,WO94/16143 and WO94/19381.

Moreover, the compositions according to the invention can containcommonly employed perfumes that have been selected from among natural,nature-identical or synthetic perfumes (see definition in Römpp, 9^(th)Edition, 1992, pp. 3887 f), whereby preference is given to thecorresponding fragrances. Examples of such substances used here includecitrus oils such as lemon oil, bergamot oil, orange oil, petit grainoil, pine oil, foin coupé perfume compositions or blossom oils such as,for example, rose, jasmine, lilac, lavender as well as syntheticfragrances on the basis of menthol, etc. An overview of this can befound in Ullmann, Enzyklopädie der technischen Chemie [Encyclopedia ofIndustrial Chemistry], Volume 20, pp. 190 to 285.

Furthermore, together with the composition according to the invention,it is also possible to add corresponding inorganic pigment or organicdyes of the type commonly employed in tissue and non-woven paperproduction. Here, not least of all for environmental reasons, preferenceis given to dyes that are physiologically safe and that do not irritatethe skin, especially the corresponding natural or nature-identical dyes.All of the above-mentioned additives and auxiliaries can be presentindividually as well as in combination.

Moreover, the composition according to the invention can also containinorganic and/or organic fillers of the type commonly used in theproduction of such products, for instance, talcum, bentonite and othertypes of clay.

The quantity of fillers added in this manner is usually 1% to 50% byweight, but preferably 1% to 10% by weight.

If so desired, the composition according to the invention can alsocontain gelling agents or hydrogels in the form of naturally occurringpolymers, for example, on the basis of polysaccharides, lignin,caoutchouc, protein and/or natural resins. If polysaccharides are usedhere, then they are film-forming materials obtained from terrestrialplants, aquatic plants or microorganisms. Such gelling agents on thebasis of polysaccharides from terrestrial plants are normally defined asstarch and starch products, that is to say, for instance, corn, wheatand rice starch as well as potato starch and tapioca starch. Otherpolysaccharides extracted from terrestrial plants aregalactoglucomannans, for example, St. John's bread seed meal and guar,dipectins and pectin substances, exudate gums such as gum Arabic oracacia gum as well as tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, etc. Thepolysaccharides obtained from aquatic plants are primarily alginates andagar, carragenans as well as algae polysaccharides. Last but not least,polysaccharides extracted from microorganisms are dextran and xanthan.Gelling agents on the basis of proteins that can be used in thecompositions according to the invention are mainly gelatins which areusually commercially available as Type A and Type B. Syntheticallymodified, naturally occurring polymers that can be used in thecompositions according to the invention as thickening components are thecorresponding cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, starch esters andstarch ethers as well as their mixtures. Finally, within the scope ofthe compositions according to the invention, it is also possible to usesynthetic polymers that are selected from among polyvinyl compounds,preferably polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone or polyvinylbutyral, from polyacrylic compounds, preferably polymethacrylic acidester copolymers. These components can be added to the composition inamounts ranging from 0% to 40% by weight, preferably from 1% to 20% byweight.

An overview of such water-soluble polymers that can be used is found inthe Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Volume 17 (1989),pp. 730 to 784.

The above-mentioned composition according to the invention normally hasa pH value in the range from 3 to 8, but preferably from 3.5 to 5.

Normally, at the application temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 90° C.[50° F. to 194° F.], preferably from 15° C. to 80° C. [59° F. to 176°F.], the composition according to the invention has a viscosity of 1 to700 mPas, preferably 5 mPas to 600 mPas when it is applied by spraying,and a viscosity of 5 to 2000 mPas, but preferably 10 mPas to 1500 mpas,when it is applied with a roller, doctor knife or blade.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the inventioncontains the following components in the following amounts: 30% to 90%by weight, preferably 50% to 80% by weight of at least one moistureregulator, especially glycerin and/or propylene glycol, 0% to 20% byweight, preferably 2% to 10% by weight of at least one non-ionic and/orcationic surfactant, 1% to 25% by weight, preferably 2% to 20% by weightof at least one special non-ionic surfactant, selected from among amineoxide and/or hydroxy acid esters as well as at least oneampho-surfactant, 0.01% to 40% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 20% byweight of at least one skin-care agent, 0% to 70% by weight, preferably0% to 40% by weight of at least one natural, naturally modified orsynthetic gelling agent, and water as the rest.

The subject matter of the present invention is also a process for theproduction of tissue products of the type described above, which ischaracterized in that a composition of the above-mentioned type isapplied onto the fiber web or onto the tissue sheet either within thewire section, the press section, the TAD section, on the Yankee cylinderand/or the drying section, that is to say, at a fibrous material densityof 20% to 97% relative to the dry fiber weight of the sheet, in anamount of 0.1% to 40%, preferably 1% to 20%, continuously ordiscontinuously onto or into the sheet, and the sheet optionallyundergoes a re-smoothing process.

In an alternative embodiment, the present invention relates to a processfor the production of tissue products, which is characterized in that acomposition of the above-mentioned type is applied onto the fiber web oronto the tissue sheet after the drying section on the lap machine, onthe combiner and/or in the automatic processing unit in an amount of0.1% to 40% by weight, preferably 1% to 20% by weight, continuously ordiscontinuously onto or into the sheet, and the sheet optionallyundergoes a re-smoothing process after the application.

In preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention, thecomposition, at a fibrous material density of 35% to 97% relative to thedry fiber weight of the single-ply sheet, is applied in an amount of0.2% to 50%, but preferably 1% to 20%.

According to another preferred embodiment of the process according tothe invention, the tissue sheet is a multi-ply sheet and thecomposition, at a fibrous material density of more than 90% relative tothe dry fiber weight, is applied onto or into at least one of the outerplies of the multi-ply sheet in an amount of 0.001% to 50%, detected asan individual component, e.g. by means of headspace gas chromatography,preferably 0.01% to 30%, or more preferred 0.1% to 25%, especiallypreferred 0.5% to 20%.

According to another preferred embodiment of the process according tothe invention, the composition is applied onto and/or in the multi-plytissue sheet on both outer plies in an amount of 0.001% to 50%,preferably 0.01% to 30%.

In another preferred embodiment of the process according to theinvention, the composition is applied in the tissue production machineby means of spray application onto the Pope roller while generating atreatment agent film and by its subsequent transfer onto the tissuesheet, which is done either during the rolling procedure or else theapplication is done by means of a doctor knife or blade process. Theapplication can also be done by means of rollers, spray devices, thedoctor knife or blade process.

As an alternative, the composition, especially the skin-care agent, canbe applied into the tissue sheet in micro-encapsulated form, embedded inmicro-sponges or in the form of liposomes.

In another preferred embodiment of the process according to theinvention, in cases where the application is not done inmicro-encapsulated form, embedded in micro-sponges or in the form ofliposomes on or in the plies, a re-smoothing process is carried out bypassing the tissue sheet through the gap of a pair of rollers in whichone roller with a steel surface is paired with a mating roller having asteel, plastic, paper or rubber surface, preferably a plastic surface.Within the scope of this process modification, it is advantageous tocarry out the re-smoothing process by feeding the tissue sheet or thenon-woven twice through a gap of a pair of rollers, in which first aroller having a steel surface is paired with a mating roller having aplastic surface and then, in mirror image, a roller having a plasticsurface is paired with a roller having a steel surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the process according tothe invention, the above-mentioned composition is applied onto the fiberweb or non-woven within the scope of conventional fiber production or anon-woven web-laying process. As an alternative, the composition canalso be applied onto the fiber web within the scope of a through-airdrying or TAD process.

Another subject matter of the present invention is the use of theabove-mentioned composition for the treatment of tissue products,especially facial tissues, cosmetic tissues, make-up removal wipes,toilet paper and household paper towels.

Another subject matter of the present invention is a tissue product inthe form of wet-laid, including TAD, and/or air-laid products ornon-wovens on the basis of sheet-like support materials having at leastone ply and containing primarily cellulose fibers, which ischaracterized in that it also contains 0.05% to 50% by weight,preferably 1% to 30% by weight, relative to the total product, of atleast one special non-ionic surfactant, selected from among amine oxideand/or hydroxy acid esters and/or at least one ampho-surfactant.

The above-mentioned tissue product according to the invention can be anat least single-ply, preferably two-ply to four-ply or multi-ply tissuepaper that is unembossed, embossed or partially embossed, for example, atissue paper provided with decorative embossing along the edge. Insteadof pure cellulose fibers, it is also possible to use tissue papers withunembossed middle plies as well as a middle ply made of CTMP. If amulti-ply tissue paper is used, the requisite ply adhesion can beachieved by full-surface gluing, by partial gluing, for example, byapplying dots of adhesive to match a given pattern, by compressing theplies together with a steel—steel roller under pressure, through amechanical adhesion of the individual plies over the surfaces, by meansof a grid pattern, by means of edge embossing, by means of knurling,etc. Such a tissue product can be a bulky support material withsufficient strength and the greatest possible softness, which can beachieved, for example, using tissue, non-woven or a combination of bothmaterials. When tissue is used here, products with a basis weight ofabout 15 to 75 g/m² are selected, whereas a basis weight of 18 to 120g/m² is selected when non-woven products are used. This process can beused for either tissue products and non-woven products alone or else ina combination of both of them, each with different basis weights. Thecompressibility can be ensured through the use of non-wovens.

If so desired, such support material can also be imparted withwet-strength, whereby conventional wet-strength agents, which are nothazardous to health, for example, urea and melamine resins as well ascross-linked cationic polyalkylene amines, etc. are used.

In a preferred embodiment, the tissue product according to the inventionhas a composition of the above-mentioned type on at least part of itssurface, on its outer sides, on the insides of the outer plies, only onthe inner plies or on all of the plies.

According to another preferred embodiment of the tissue productaccording to the invention, at least part of the above-mentionedcomposition is found on or in the plies as an application inmicro-encapsulated form, embedded in micro-sponges or in the form ofliposomes, and preferably at least part of the skin-care agent of theabove-mentioned type is found on or in the plies in micro-encapsulatedform, embedded in micro-sponges or in the form of liposomes.

As its basic component, in addition to the surfactant according to theinvention, the above-mentioned composition contains the moistureregulators, and water as the rest. Polyols such as, for example,polyethylene glycol or sorbite or other skin-compatible and mucousmembrane-compatible substances function as such moisture regulators.Here preference is given to the use of propylene glycol and/or glycerin.

As far as the skin-care agents are concerned, special preference isgiven to provitamin B5, the so-called D-panthenol, because of its verygood moisture-retention properties. Other especially preferred skin-carecomponents are allantoin and the addition compound of allantoin toD-panthenol, tocopherol acetate, jojoba oil, rice germ oil, avocado oil,special lactic acid-fatty alcohol ester, for example, the product madeby Merck AG, namely, Ceraphyl® 28 H(CH₃)C(OH)C(O)OC₁₆H₃₃, phytosterol,glycyrrhetinic acid, and their salts, isopropylester of wool greasefatty acids made by the Nordmann & Rassmann company, for example, theisopropyl myristate sold under the brand name Amerlate® P, bisabolol andazulene, plant proteins such as, for example, wheat proteins and algaeextracts as well as various plant extracts or active ingredients fromhops, St. John's wort, balm, arnica, althaea, elderberry, sage, mallow,hamamelis, mango, papaya and linden.

As representatives of the amine oxides according to the invention, ofhydroxy acid esters and of ampho-surfactants of especially preferredsubstance classes, the compositions according to the invention containamine oxides having the formula

wherein R₁ and R₂ stand for methyl and R₃ stands for an amidoalkyl grouphaving the general formula (CH₂)₃N(H)C(O)R₄, wherein R₄ stands for a C₇to C₁₇ fatty acid radical. Especially preferred ampho-surfactants areso-called alkylamphoacetates having the general formulaR₈(O)C(H)N(CH₂)₂(H)NCH₂(OH)CCH₂COO⁻, wherein R₈ stands for a fatty acidradical having 7 to 17 carbon atoms. Moreover, alkylpolyamphopolycarboxy glycinates (APAC) are particularly preferred inwhich, in turn,

wherein

R₂₈=C₇ to C₁₇ fatty acid, and

n=2.3.

Furthermore, mention should be made here of trimethyl glycine having thegeneral formula (CH₃)₃N⁺CH₂COO⁻, a cocoamidopropyl betaine or a citricacid monoglyceride with a C₇ to C₁₇ fatty acid radical, in which one ofthe two free citric acid carboxyl groups in the β-position has an SO₃group.

Moreover, mention should be made of glycine esters having the generalstructure

wherein

R₂₉=C₇ to C₁₇→—C₁₂H₂₅ (specifically: Medialan® LD, Example 5).

When the above-mentioned composition is used, it penetrates partiallyinto the tissue fiber web, thereby influencing the softness and feel ofthe cloth. When the composition is applied exclusively onto the outerply, enough lotion remains adhering to the top ply to be transferredonto the skin where it can develop its effect when the lotion-treatedcloth is properly used.

In order to evaluate the improved/changed feel in comparison tostandards, so-called hand-feel tests were carried out. This is done inthe form of a panel test by trained persons, similar to the Manual ofSensory Testing Methods, (ISTN, Special Technical Publication 434, page22, test form de-ranking methods, rank order eleventh printing, February1993). On this basis, the increasing softness, defined here as the sumof the surface softness and crumple softness, is evaluated by a group offour trained persons by means of the following method:

The paper facial tissues to be tested were folded twice in half so thatthe sample identification could not be seen by the test person and ineach case, the same outer side was presented for evaluation.

The tissues folded in this manner are then tested by being rubbed andcrumpled between the test person's thumb, ball of the thumb and fingerand then compared to previously defined standards. Whereas the “zerosample”, i.e. an untreated facial tissue from the standard production,has a hand-feel value of just 72 hand-feel points on a scale from 0 to100, the tissues that were lotion-treated in the laboratory areconsistently ranked higher. The table below gives an overview of theincrease in softness.

The present invention will now be explained with reference toembodiments.

EXAMPLE 1

10% by weight of citric acid alkyl polyglycol ester sulfosuccinate anddisodium salt (Rewopol SB CS 50 made by REWO GmbH) are added to a basiclotion of 40% by weight of glycerin, 30% by weight of propylene glycoland 20% by weight of water. The addition is made while stirring, andthorough mixing has to be insured. A clear composition results in theform of a lotion that is applied onto a four-ply, edge-embossed tissuepaper with a basis weight of 60 g/m² at a 6%-application. After beingconditioned for 24 hours, the tissues are re-smoothed and lined up withother samples in a panel test. The lotion-treated tissue was alwaysclassified as softer than the sample without lotion; this was true ofthe samples that had been re-smoothed as well as those that had not beenre-smoothed.

EXAMPLE 2

10% by weight of a cocoamidoalkyl dimethyl amine oxide of the type soldby the Th. Goldschmidt AG company under the designation Tegotain WS 35is added to a basic lotion of 40% by weight of glycerin, 30% by weightof propylene glycol and 20% by weight of water. The addition is madewhile stirring, and thorough mixing has to be insured. A clear lotionresults which is applied in a 6%-application onto a four-ply,edge-embossed tissue paper as described in Example 1. After a 24-hourconditioning phase, the tissues are re-smoothed and lined up with othersamples in a panel test. In each case, the lotion-treated tissue yieldedbetter results than a cloth without lotion, irrespective of whether theyhad been re-smoothed or not re-smoothed.

EXAMPLE 3

10% by weight-of the amine oxide as described in Example 2 was added toa basic lotion of 50% by weight of propylene glycol and 20% by weight ofwater and mixed thoroughly while being stirred. Subsequently, 20% byweight of D-panthenol (BASF AG) is added. The addition is carried outwith vigorous stirring so that a thorough mixing is ensured. After ahomogeneous lotion has formed, it is applied in a 6%-application onto afour-ply, edge-embossed tissue paper as described in Example 1. Afterbeing conditioned for 24 hours, the cloth is re-smoothed and likewisetested in a panel test. The lotion-treated tissue paper was once againclassified as better than a tissue without lotion (re-smoothed or notre-smoothed),

EXAMPLE 4

5.25% by weight of amine oxide as described in Example 2 is added to abasic lotion of 30% by weight of glycerin and 20% by weight of propyleneglycol and 29.75% by weight of water. Subsequently, another 15% byweight of Phytosterol (Henkel KGAA) is added. After thorough mixing, thelotion is applied in a 6%-application onto a four-ply, edge-embossedtissue paper as described in Example 1. After being conditioned for 24hours and re-smoothed, the lotion-treated cloth was always classified ina panel test as better than a cloth that was not treated with lotion.

EXAMPLE 5

As the surfactant, 2% by weight of the amine oxide as described inExample 2 as well as 2% of Medialan® LD and, as the skin-care agent, 3%by weight of tocopherol acetate, 12% by weight of rice germ oil and 15%by weight of jojoba oil are added to a basic lotion of 46% by weight ofpropylene glycol and 20% by weight of water. After being thoroughlymixed, the lotion is applied in a 6%-application onto a four-ply,edge-embossed tissue paper as described in Example 1. After beingconditioned for 24 hours and re-smoothed, the lotion-treated cloth wasalways classified in a panel test as better than a cloth that was nottreated with lotion.

EXAMPLE 6

Example 2 was repeated, but instead of the amine oxide, 10% by weight ofthe alkylamphoacetate Rewoteric AM 2C NM (Witco Surfactants company),

R=C₇ to C₁₇ fatty acid

was added. After the application and the conditioning as well asre-smoothing, but otherwise with the same technique, it was found in apanel test that the lotion-treated tissue yielded better results thanthe corresponding tissue without lotion in every case.

EXAMPLE 7

10% by weight of the amine oxide as described in Example 2 was added toa basic lotion of 69% by weight of propylene glycol and 20% by weight ofwater as described in Example 2 and mixed well while being stirred.Subsequently, while the mixture is being heated to about 60° C. [140°F.] and vigorously stirred, 1% by weight of glycyrrhetinic acid (MidasPharma GmbH, Ingelheim, Germany) is added. After dissolution andsubsequent cooling off to 20° C. [68° F.], the lotion was applied in a6%-application onto a four-ply, edge-embossed tissue paper as describedin Example 1. After being conditioned for 24 hours and re-smoothed, thelotion-treated cloth was classified in a panel test as better than acloth that was not treated with lotion.

EXAMPLE 8

Example 2 was repeated except that, instead of the amine oxide, 10%trimethyl glycine (WITCO company) was added. With an otherwise identicalprocess methodology, a clear lotion was obtained which was applied in a6%-application onto a four-ply, edge-embossed tissue paper as describedin Example 1. After being conditioned for 24 hours and re-smoothed, thelotion-treated cloth was classified in a panel test as better than acloth that was not treated with lotion.

EXAMPLE 9

4% of a bentonite (Optigel® SH, Süd-Chemie AG) was added to a basiclotion consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin and water (quantityratio 30:45:25). The viscosity of the basic lotion thus treated wasincreased to about 840 mPas in order to allow an application by means offilm-pressing. This lotion was applied on both sides in a6%-application, yielding a hand-feel value of 77 with a fluctuationrange of ±5.

Lotion No. Lotion HF value N zero sample, not lotion-treated 72 Sglycerin + PG + water = 45 + 30 + 25 76 Example 1 Rewopol SB CRASTIN 7650 + glycerin + PG + water = 10 + 40 + 30 + 20 Example 2 amine oxide 77WS 35 + glycerin + PG + water = 10 + 40 + 30 + 20 Example 3D-panthenol + amine oxide WS 35 + PG* water = 75 20 + 10 + 50 + 20Example 4 glycerin + PG + H₂O + WS 35 + phytostyrene = 78 Generol ® 122E 25 (Henkel) = 30 + 20 + 29, 75 + 5, 25 + 15 Example 5 PG + H₂O + WS35 + Medialan ® LD + tocopherol 76 acetate + rice germ oil + jojoba oil= 46 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 12 + 15 Example 6 Rewoteric AM 2C** 76 NM +glycerin + PG + water = 10 + 40 + 30 + 20 Example 7 Glycyrrhetinicacid + amine oxide 75 WS 35 + PG + water =1 + 10 + 69 + 20 Example 8Trimethyl glycine + glycerin + PG + water = 76 10 + 40 + 30 + 20 Example9 glycerin + PG + H₂O + bentonite = 77 45 + 30 + 25 + 4 HF = hand-feelPG = propylene glycol *Dodecyl-dimethyl amine oxide (Th. Goldschmidt AG)

What is claimed is:
 1. A tissue product in a form of a wet-laid orair-laid product or a non-woven product of a sheet support materialhaving at least one ply and containing primarily cellulose fibers,comprising a composition containing a moisture regulator in an amount of40% to 90% by weight, and at least one non-ionic surfactant in an amountof 1% to 25% by weight of the composition, wherein the surfactantcomprises an amine oxide and/or hydroxy acid esters and/or at least oneampho-surfactant, except for myristyl acetate and sodium salts of fattyalcohol acetates, wherein the composition is present on at least part ofits surface, on its outer sides, on the insides of the outer plies, onlyon the inner plies or on all of the plies.
 2. The tissue productaccording to claim 1, wherein the amount of the non-ionic surfactant is5% to 20% by weight of the composition.
 3. A tissue product in a form ofa wet-laid or air-laid product or a non-woven product of a sheet supportmaterial having at least one ply and containing primarily cellulosefibers, comprising a composition containing a moisture regulator in anamount of 40% to 90% by weight, and at least one non-ionic surfactant inan amount of 1% to 25% by weight of the composition, wherein thesurfactant comprises an amine oxide and/or hydroxy acid esters and/or atleast one ampho-surfactant, except for myristyl acetate and sodium saltsof fatty alcohol acetates, wherein at least part of the composition ispresent as an application, in micro-encapsulated form, embedded inmicro-sponges or in the form of liposomes on or in the plies.
 4. Thetissue product according to claim 3, wherein at least one natural,nature-identical or synthetic skin care agent is present inmicro-encapsulated form, embedded in micro-sponges or in the form ofliposomes on or in the plies.
 5. The tissue product according to claim3, wherein the amount of the non-ionic surfactant is 5% to 20% by weightof the composition.
 6. A process for production of tissue products,comprising applying a composition containing a moisture regulator fortissue products onto a fiber web or onto a tissue sheet within a wiresection, a press section, a through-air drying section, on a Yankeecylinder and/or a drying section, at a fibrous material density of 20%to 97% of a dry fiber weight of the sheet, wherein the application iscarried out in an amount of 0.001% to 50% by weight, continuously ordiscontinuously onto or into the web or sheet, and wherein the web orsheet optionally undergoes a smoothing process after the application,said composition comprising at least one non-ionic surfactant in anamount of 1% to 25% by weight of the composition, wherein the surfactantcomprises at least one amine oxide and/or hydroxy acid esters, exceptfor myristyl acetate and sodium salts of fatty alcohol acetates, and/orat least one ampho-surfactant, and wherein the moisture regulator ispresent in an amount of 40% to 90% by weight of the total composition.7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the tissue sheet is amulti-ply sheet and the composition, at a fibrous material density ofmore than 90% of the dry fiber weight, is applied onto the multi-plysheet, in an amount of 0.1% to 50% by weight.
 8. The process accordingto claim 7, wherein the composition is applied onto at least one ofouter plies of the multi-ply sheet in an amount of 0.1% to 50%.
 9. Theprocess according to claim 6, wherein at least part of the compositionis applied onto the sheet by spraying, rolling or by means of a (roll)doctor knife or blade process, or into and/or onto the sheet inmicro-encapsulated form, embedded in micro-sponges or in the form ofliposomes.
 10. The process according to claim 6, wherein the smoothingprocess comprises passing the tissue sheet or a non-woven sheet at leastonce through a gap of a pair of rollers in which one roller with a steelsurface is paired with a mating roller having a steel, plastic, paper orrubber surface.
 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein themating roller has a plastic surface.
 12. The process according to claim6, wherein the smoothing process comprises feeding the tissue sheet or anon-woven sheet twice through a gap of a pair of rollers, in which firsta roller having a steel surface is paired with a mating roller having aplastic surface and then, in mirror image, a roller having a plasticsurface is paired with a roller having a steel surface.
 13. The processaccording to claim 6, wherein the composition is applied onto the fiberweb.
 14. The process according to claim 6, wherein the composition isapplied onto the fiber web by a through-air drying process or by anon-woven web-laying process.
 15. The process according to claim 6,wherein the composition is applied in an amount of 0.2% to 50% byweight.
 16. The process according to claim 6, wherein the tissue sheetis a multi-ply tissue sheet, and wherein the composition is applied ontothe multi-ply tissue sheet, in an amount of 0.01% to 30% by weight. 17.The process according to claim 6, wherein the tissue sheet is amulti-ply tissue sheet, and wherein the composition is applied onto atleast one of the outer plies of the multi-ply tissue sheet in an amountof 0.01% to 30% by weight.
 18. A process for production of tissueproducts, comprising applying a composition containing a moistureregulator for tissue products onto a fiber web or onto a tissue sheetafter being treated by a drying section of a tissue paper machine, on acombiner and/or in a converting unit, wherein the application is carriedout in an amount of 0.1% to 50% by weight, continuously ordiscontinuously onto or into the web or sheet, and the web or sheetoptionally undergoes a smoothing process after the application, saidcomposition comprising at least one non-ionic surfactant in an amount of1% to 25% by weight of the composition, wherein the surfactant comprisesat least one amine oxide and/or hydroxy acid esters, except for myristylacetate and sodium salts of fatty alcohol acetates, and/or at lest oneampho-surfactant, and wherein the moisture regulator is present in anamount of 40% to 90% by weight of the total composition.
 19. The processaccording to claim 18, wherein the composition, at a fibrous materialdensity of 35% to 97% of the dry fiber weight of a single ply of thetissue sheet, is applied in an amount of 0.2% to 40%.
 20. The processaccording to claim 19, wherein the composition is applied in an amountof 1% to 20% by weight.
 21. The process according to claim 18, whereinthe composition is applied in an amount of 1% to 20% by weight.
 22. Aprocess for production of a multi-ply tissue product, comprisingapplying a composition containing a moisture regulator for tissueproducts onto a multi-ply tissue sheet within a wire section, a presssection, a through-air drying section, on a Yankee cylinder and/or adrying section, at a fibrous material density of 20% to 97% of a dryfiber weight of the sheet, wherein the application is carried out in anamount of 0.001% to 50% by weight, continuously or discontinuously ontoor into the web or sheet, and wherein the web or sheet optionallyundergoes a smoothing process after the application, said compositioncomprising at least one non-ionic surfactant in an amount of 1% to 25%by weight of the composition, wherein the surfactant comprises at leastone amine oxide and/or hydroxy acid esters, except for myristyl acetateand sodium salts of fatty alcohol acetates, and/or at least oneampho-surfactant, and wherein the moisture regulator is present in anamount of 40% to 90% by weight of the total composition.
 23. The processaccording to claim 22, wherein the composition is applied onto at leastone of outer plies of the multi-ply tissue sheet in an amount of 0.1% to50%.